The biggest free-agent signings in Seahawks history

March 13, 2013 4:48 PM

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The biggest free-agent signings in Seahawks history

Free-agency began Tuesday for the 2013 NFL offseason. And while the Seahawks have already made a lot of noise this week by trading for wide receiver Percy Harvin, they haven't made any noise in free-agency. Not yet, at least.

Particularly after defensive tackle Jason Jones signed with the Lions on Wednesday, the Seahawks are in dire need of more depth in pass-rushers. Seattle could make a move in free-agency, and/or try to get a cheaper guy in April's NFL Draft. Either way, after nailing down Harvin and his offensive strengths, the Seahawks should now focus on defense.

It's all got us thinking: What are some of the biggest moves the Seahawks have made in free-agency throughout the team's history? Click through the gallery to see who made our list.

After making 13 sacks in an All-Pro and Pro Bowl season with the playoff-bound Steelers in 1996, the Seahawks nabbed Brown as a free agent in the 1997 offseason. He had another All-Pro and Pro Bowl season in 1998, and took yet another trip to the Pro Bowl in 1999, during his eight-year stint in Seattle through 2004.

The Seahawks signed him in 2001 after five decent years in Chicago, and Engram became a key part of Seattle's offense in the 2000s. He led the team with 67 receptions in 2005 when the Seahawks went to Super Bowl XL, and continued to produce through the 2008 season. He holds the team record of most pass receptions in a single season with 94 in 2007.

Seattle signed Gray after his one-year stint with the Bears, and he found a home with the Seahawks until he retired after the 2007 season. In 2001 the Hawks moved him from center to guard, and he was an integral piece of the offensive line that pushed Seattle to five-consecutive playoff appearances, including Super Bowl XL, and helped running back Shaun Alexander in his 2005 MVP year. Gray holds the team record of most consecutive games started with 121.

After Johnson went undrafted in the 1982 draft, the Seahawks gave him a rookie contract and found their kicker for the next nine years. In 1984, Johnson was All-Pro and went to the Pro Bowl, then repeated the feat in 1993 after he moved to the Atlanta Falcons in 1991. He retired after 1999 having also played for the Steelers and Eagles, and now is among the NFL's all-time top scorers. He still holds the Seahawks scoring record with 810 points during his career in Seattle.

After eight great years in Atlanta, including a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2004, Kerney opted out of the last two years of his contract and became a free agent in 2007. The Seahawks stepped in, and he finished his career in Seattle for three more seasons. That first year in Seattle, Kerney was a Pro Bowler and was named to the All-Pro first team.

When the Seahawks signed him in 2008, Mare had already been in the NFL 11 years and was All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in 1999 with the Dolphins. He had stellar seasons in 2008 and 2009, missing three field goals in '08 and just two in '09, and stayed in Seattle through 2010.

Miller went to the Pro Bowl in 2010 when he led the Raiders in catches and receiving yards, then he became a free agent. The Seahawks signed him to a five-year, $34 million deal and used him more as a blocking tight end in 2011. But in 2012, as the 11-5 Hawks made their unexpected playoff run, Miller ended up as Seattle's No. 3 receiver and was key in the Seahawks' first-round playoff win over the Redskins.

Moon was a star for the Washington Huskies, and by 1997 was an eight-time Pro Bowler in his 13 years with the Oilers and Vikings. So the 12th Man was understandably excited when the Seahawks signed him in the '97 offseason -- despite his being 41 years old. Moon spent two years in Seattle, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl in 1997 and helping the Seahawks in 1999 make their first playoff appearance in 11 years. He retired after two more seasons with the Chiefs, yet remains a prominent sports figure in Seattle as a broadcaster for the Seahawks.

Nash was an undrafted free agent when the Seahawks signed him out of college in 1982, and it took him just three years to get to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro first team in 1984. Nash spent his entire 15-year NFL career in Seattle as a nose tackle and left defensive tackle. He retired after the 1996 season, and still holds the team records for most seasons and most consecutive games played with 125.

Peterson made his first trip to the Pro Bowl in 2002 and was All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in 2003, yet after six years with the Niners he signed with the Seahawks in the 2006 offseason. He immediately made a big impact, and went to the Pro Bowl again in all three of his seasons in Seattle. The Seahawks ended up trading him to the Lions during the 2009 offseason for a fifth-round draft pick.

The Vikings were smart enough to sign Randle as an undrafted free agent in 1990, and he had a whopping six-straight years of going to the Pro Bowl and being named to the All-Pro first team. After 11 stellar -- and sometimes controversial -- years in Minnesota, the Seahawks signed him for the 2001 season and he spent his final three years in Seattle, finding himself back at the Pro Bowl in his first year as a Seahawk.

A second-round pick in the 2007 draft, Rice had his breakout season in 2009 when he was with the Vikings, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl after tallying 1,312 yards on 83 receptions. But hip surgery took him out for 2010, and despite a stellar late-season return was allowed to go to free-agency in the 2011 offseason. The Seahawks picked him up for five years and $41 million, and Rice has now become a key part of the Seattle offense led by QB Russell Wilson. While with the Vikings, Rice was a teammate and friend of WR Percy Harvin, whom the Seahawks just acquired in a trade Tuesday.

The Seahawks signed him in 1994 as an undrafted free agent out of college, and Strong spent all of his 14 NFL seasons in Seattle. Strong was a key piece of the Seahawks offense for the better part of two decades, blocking for three 1,000-yard rushers (Chris Warren, Ricky Watters and Shaun Alexander), and was All-Pro in 2005 when the Seahawks went to Super Bowl XL. He also went to the Pro Bowl in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, at the age of 36, Strong announced he would retire early due to a neck injury.

He was a star for the Washington State Cougars but went undrafted in 1994, signing with the Falcons and becoming their starting left guard after one year. Tobeck switched to center for Atlanta's 1998 run to Super Bowl XXXIII, and that's where the Seahawks played him after Seattle signed him in the 2001 offseason. Tobeck was center for Seattle's playoff streak in the mid 2000s, helping RB Shaun Alexander in his 2005 MVP season and leading the Seahawks into Super Bowl XL.

He started his NFL career with five-straight trips to the Pro Bowl, pushing the Niners to three NFC Championship Games and their Super Bowl victory in 1995. After three years with the Eagles and still one of the best running backs in the league, Watters signed with the Seahawks and spent his final four pro years in Seattle. He was the leading rusher before Shaun Alexander took over in 2001, and helped the Warren Moon-led Seahawks in 1999 make their first playoff appearance in 11 years.